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Weser Bros. Transposing Upright Piano

American History Museum

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    Object Details

    user

    Berlin, Irving

    maker

    Weser Bros.

    Description

    This transposing upright piano was made by Weser Brothers in New York, New York in 1940. According to the inscription on the case, it was made “expressly for Irving Berlin.” The transposing mechanism moves the action and keyboard so that the player can play in any key. Irving Berlin was a self-taught pianist who preferred to play on the black keys. This piano is serial number 117728 and has a compass of AAA-c5, tape-check upright action, felt hammers, single-, double-, and triple-strings, 3 pedals: :soft,” transposing mechanism, and dampers, 1 hand lever under the keybed: keyboard and action shift, one-piece cast-iron frame, cross-strung, and a black lacquer case.

    Credit Line

    Gift of Irving Berlin

    date made

    1940

    ID Number

    MI.73.30

    accession number

    305340

    catalog number

    73.30

    serial number

    117,728

    Object Name

    piano

    Physical Description

    felt (hammers: material)
    iron (frame material)
    wood (case: material)
    cast (frame production method/technique)

    Measurements

    overall: 45 in x 60 in x 25 in; 114.3 cm x 152.4 cm x 63.5 cm

    place made

    United States: New York, New York

    Related Publication

    Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History

    See more items in

    Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
    Music & Musical Instruments
    Pianos

    Exhibition

    Price of Freedom

    Exhibition Location

    National Museum of American History

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    Subject

    Musical Theater

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-4c01-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_605967

    Discover More

    1918: 100 years ago

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